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Cadzow Castle, Park Pale
Park Pale (Medieval), Rig And Furrow (Medieval) - (Post Medieval)
Site Name Cadzow Castle, Park Pale
Classification Park Pale (Medieval), Rig And Furrow (Medieval) - (Post Medieval)
Alternative Name(s) Hamilton High Parks, Park Pale; High Parks Farm; Cadzow House Policies
Canmore ID 45735
Site Number NS75SW 3
NGR NS 7288 5372
NGR Description NS 7288 5372 to NS 7325 5343
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/45735
- Council South Lanarkshire
- Parish Hamilton (South Lanarkshire)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Hamilton
- Former County Lanarkshire
NS75SW 3 7288 5372 to 7325 5343.
(NS 7288 5372 to NS 7325 5343) Bank running from one stream to another, probably the park pale of Cadzow Castle (NS75SW 8).
OS 6" map annotated by O G S Crawford, 19 May 1939.
There is little doubt that this earthwork is part of the medieval park pale attached to Cadzow Castle. The ditchless bank extends between two streams and cuts off an area of high ground in an angle of the Avon Water. It is only visible within the woods at its E and W extremities, but its probable course can be followed by a line of trees across the intermediate grass field.
In its 200m long section on the NW it is some 5.0m broad and 0.7m maximum height, while in the short stretch on the SE, it is spread to about 15.0m and attains a maximum height of about 0.3m on the N side. Rig-and-furrow ploughing at NS 7301 5360 is clearly contemporary with, or later than, the pale.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 19 May 1959
The Park of Cadzow was acquired by James, first Lord Roslin in 1445. (In this context, a park was an enclosed game reserve surrounded by a ditch and bank, on top of which was a palisade - cf NS79SE 7).
M L Anderson 1967
Scheduled as 'Hamilton High Parks, park pale... the remains of a medieval park pale, surviving in two parts as substantial earthworks, and as buried archaeology, together with an area which would have contained an associated ditch.'
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 26 February 2003.
Field Visit (2006)
NS 7393 5228
Outer Dyke: substantial sandstone masonry wall, ruined over long lengths, 2m high x 0.6m wide with unusual two-part cope. From edge of Avon Water valley at NS 73935228, continues mostly straight for 550m to NS 7358 5185 where turns NW. Continues mostly straight for 1.5km to NS 72395260 where terminates at gate. Previous continuation W of Meikle Burn valley destroyed by modern housing. Outer Park Dyke shown on surveys by Edward (1708) and Watt (1729).
Inner Dyke: Battered retaining wall or haha, 1.8m high with shallow ditch on W side and retaining full height on E. Starts at Thorney Glen boundary NS73356251, continues to NW for 1km over crest of hill. Latterly rebuilt and with new cope, continues to NS 7262 5319, where changes to upstanding boundary wall. Turns N continuing for 900m to terminate at gate at NS 72855405. Inner Park dyke c 1740 enclosing Deer Park.
S Nisbet 2006
Field Visit
Boundary bank within improved pasture with slight tree cover (Cadzow Oaks) 79m x c.7m Linear boundary with substantial earthworks to East in fenced area, and rig and furrow to West. Runs N-S for 79m. Width: 6.8m, 7.4m, 7.3m. Park Pale with Medieval rig and furrow and possible earth works.
Information from the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (Northlight Heritage), 2017
